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Beer Review: Sierra Nevada/Bells Maillard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale

Getting toward the end of the Beer Camp Across America pack now, after this only three more to go. In this review I have Maillard’s Odyssey the Sierra collab with Bells Brewery from Michigan, an imperial dark ale. Bell’s is a brewery certainly known for their dark beers such as their porter, Kalamazoo stout, Java stout and Expedition stout to name a few. I was excited to try this one since I enjoy all of the beers aforementioned and I had heard mostly good things about this beer as opposed to some of the others in the pack. Maillard’s Odyssey comes in at 8.5% ABV and 40 IBUs.

Appearance: Pitch black beer with no light piercing through. About a 1/2 – 1 finger brown head. Really amazing lacing on this beer as well. Loved everything about the appearance of this one.

Nose: Huge amounts of coffee. Chocolate, toffee, caramel and lots of roasted malt as well. Pretty much nailed the aromas for this one on the label descriptions. Really enjoyable beer to take in, spent a lot of time enjoying the nose of this beer.

Taste/Mouth: Really nice coffee and roasty flavors and some nice chocolate flavors as well. You get a little caramel. Most flavors carrying over from the nose of this beer. Nice thick body lending to a full mouthfeel which finishes with a nice roasty dry burnt molasses flavor. Really interesting and complex beer with lots of layers to it. Warmed up well.

Price/Availability: One time only, unfortunately.

Overall: Bell’s nails their collab with Sierra by producing without a doubt one of the best beers in the pack, probably in my top 3. Very complex and rich beer would love to have it again.